Stress during pregnancy alters dendritic spine density and gene expression in the brain of new-born lambs

摘要: Rodent studies show how prenatal stress (PS) can alter morphology in the cortico-limbic structures that support emotional and cognitive functions. PS-induced alteration is less well described species with a gyrencephalic brain complex earlier fetal development, never sheep at birth to rule out postnatal environment effects or influences of maternal behavior. This study aimed assess consequences mild chronic pregnant ewes on neurobiological development their lambs birth. During last third gestation, 7 were exposed daily various unpredictable negative routine management-based challenges (stressed group), while other housed without any additional perturbation (control group). For each group, newborn from litter was sacrificed collect its analyze expression levels genes involved neuronal dendritic (Dlg4, Rac1, RhoA, Doc2b), synaptic transmission (Nr1, Grin2A, Grin2B) glucocorticoid receptor (Nr3C1) hippocampus (HPC), prefrontal cortex (PFC) amygdala (AMYG). Results revealed stressed dam (PS lambs) showed under-expression Rac1 Nr1 PFC overexpression Dlg4 AMYG compared controls. To morphological gene dysregulations, pyramidal neurons explored by Golgi–Cox staining HPC PFC. PS had higher spine density both more stubby-type spines CA1 area than first demonstration alters brain, possibly reflecting functional changes cope adversity experienced life.